Jekyll2018-01-07T12:53:07-06:00https://pathawks.com/Pat HawksPat Hawkspat@pathawks.comhttp://feeds.pathawks.com/PatHawks?format=skinAll sorts of nifty little stories about my crazy mixed up life18.051995-63.126669Fitness &amp; Technology2016-06-12T09:30:00-05:002016-07-14T14:59:00-05:00https://pathawks.com/2016/06/fitness-tech<div class='audio oembed'><audio controls='true' onerror='n=this.getElementsByTagName("object")[0].parentNode.innerHTML;this.parentNode.innerHTML=n;' preload='auto' style='width:100%;height:24px'><source src='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/06/fitness-tech.opus' type='audio/ogg; codecs="opus"' /><source src='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/06/fitness-tech.webm' type='audio/webm; codecs="opus"' /><source src='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/06/fitness-tech.caf' type='audio/x-caf; codecs="opus"' /><source src='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/06/fitness-tech.mp3' type='audio/mpeg; codecs="mp3"' /><object data='//media.pathawks.com/audioplayer.swf' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' height='24' width='400'><param name='movie' value='//media.pathawks.com/audioplayer.swf' /><param name='FlashVars' value='soundFile=https://media.pathawks.com/2016/06/fitness-tech.mp3&amp;titles=Fitness & Technology&amp;artists=&amp;autostart=no&amp;loader=0x6797d3&amp;border=0xFCEEBE&amp;bg=0xFCEEBE&amp;tracker=0x6797d3&amp;leftbg=0xd5e3f4&amp;rightbg=0xa5b3ff&amp;rightbghover=0x6090ff&amp;lefticon=0x1030cc&amp;righticon=0x1030cc&amp;voltrack=0x6797d3&amp;volslider=0x1030cc' /><param name='quality' value='high' /><param name='menu' value='false' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><span></span></object></audio></div>
<p>I joined <a href="http://heartlandoncology.com/dr_warner.htm"><abbr title='Doctor'>Dr.</abbr> Warner</a> on his radio show, House Calls, to talk about fitness and technology.</p>
<p>Topics covered include vapping, <a href="https://www.fitbit.com/">FitBit</a> and fitness wearables, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/">23andMe</a> and genetic testing, and the Internet of Things and the <a href="http://www.withings.com/us/en/products/body-cardio">Withings Body Cardio scale</a>.</p>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.comI 💙 Swift2016-02-19T15:35:00-06:002016-02-19T15:35:00-06:00https://pathawks.com/2016/02/swift<div class='video oembed' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/VideoObject' itemprop='video'><video controls='true' onerror='n=this.getElementsByTagName("a")[0].parentNode.innerHTML;this.parentNode.innerHTML=n;' onload='this.textTracks[0]="hidden";' preload='auto' style='width:640px;height:360px' poster='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/02/swift.png'><meta itemprop='isFamilyFriendly' content='True'/><meta itemprop='paid' content='False'/><source src='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/02/swift.mp4' type='video/mp4; codecs="avc1.4D401F, mp4a.40.2"' itemprop='contentURL'/><source src='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/02/swift.webm' type='video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"' itemprop='contentURL'/><a href='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/02/swift.mp4' title='Click to Play Video'><img src='https://media.pathawks.com/2016/02/swift.png' width='640' height='360' alt='video thumbnail' itemprop='thumbnailUrl'/></a></video></div>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.comMostly…2015-07-20T09:27:00-05:002015-07-20T09:27:00-05:00https://pathawks.com/2015/07/muppet<div class='video oembed' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/VideoObject' itemprop='video'><video controls='true' onerror='n=this.getElementsByTagName("a")[0].parentNode.innerHTML;this.parentNode.innerHTML=n;' onload='this.textTracks[0]="hidden";' preload='auto' style='width:640px;height:360px' poster='//media.pathawks.com/2015/07/muppet.jpeg'><meta itemprop='isFamilyFriendly' content='True'/><meta itemprop='paid' content='False'/><source src='//media.pathawks.com/2015/07/muppet.mp4' type='video/mp4; codecs="avc1.42C01E, mp4a.40.2"' itemprop='contentURL'/><source src='//media.pathawks.com/2015/07/muppet.webm' type='video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"' itemprop='contentURL'/><a href='//media.pathawks.com/2015/07/muppet.mp4' title='Click to Play Video'><img src='//media.pathawks.com/2015/07/muppet.jpeg' width='640' height='360' alt='video thumbnail' itemprop='thumbnailUrl'/></a></video></div>
<p>When I was in high school, I <a href="/2008/12/phat-rino.html">wrote some songs</a>.</p>
<p>As you might imagine, these songs are full of melodramatic teen angst. They are a reflection of how I wanted to be seen at that time in my life.</p>
<p>They are no longer representative of who I am, and that is a good thing. I have outgrown my angst. I am not embarrassed to have written these songs nor of who I used to be, but I am not that person anymore.</p>
<p>While in high school, I recorded several (but not all) of these songs that I had written. I did not believe that I was archiving these songs for the historical record of my life, I just wanted to share my music with my friends. As such, I did not put a great deal of effort into the recording process. Most everything was done in one take. I once broke a string while recording a song, but it was near the end, so I felt no need to record it over again.</p>
<p>It is difficult for me today to take pride in these recordings. It is very difficult to listen to them.</p>
<p>Some of those songs that I wrote in high school are not terrible. None of them are great, but one or two of them are kind of okay. I would not mind making them available somewhere, but the only recordings that exist are of terrible quality.</p>
<p>I have sometimes wondered if I could rerecord these songs today. I could really put some effort into it and use modern technology to make something that sounded good, technically. The problem is, while I have patience to tackle such a project today, I am not sure I retain the requisite angst to do these songs justice. I worry that I would end up capturing merely a caricature of my high school self.</p>
<p>So will these songs ever again see the light of day?</p>
<p>No, probably not. The perfectionist in my head would just not be happy releasing the existing recordings.</p>
<p>While I sometimes wish that I had something to show from that period in my life, I am mostly content to burn the ships and forge ahead.</p>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.comIt’s been a year2014-08-22T18:57:00-05:002014-08-22T18:57:00-05:00https://pathawks.com/2014/08/back-in-usa<p>One year ago Christine and I moved back to the United States.</p>
<p>I haven’t really posted anything about it, and it’s difficult to even know what to say.</p>
<p>Over the past 12 months, we have:</p>
<ul>
<li>Moved four times</li>
<li>Lived in four different time zones spread across two different countries</li>
<li>Driven 6500 miles <em>with our two cats</em></li>
<li>Swam in two oceans and the Caribbean sea</li>
</ul>
<p>All of this is to say that the past year has just been a crazy time of transition.</p>
<p>After finishing the first two years of medical school – which consists mostly of classroom education – Christine is now in her third year, which is spent in hospitals doing real Doctory stuff. Christine <a href="http://www.christinehawks.com/2014/02/what-exactly-is-it-you-do.html">wrote a good summary</a> explaining exactly how it is all structured.</p>
<hr />
<p>It has been nice settling back into the States.</p>
<p>It has been more than a year since the water went out while I was in the middle of a shower.</p>
<p>It has been more than a year since the power went out.</p>
<p>In Sint Maarten, Christine and I would walk – nearly every afternoon – to a beach that looked like it came straight from a postcard.</p>
<p>While in the midwest, we got to spend some quality time with family and old friends. Christine’s dad got married to an amazing woman.</p>
<p>Also, it was very cold.</p>
<p>In Florida, Christine and I loved visiting the Everglades on the weekend. I kid you not, I once almost stepped on the head of an aligator when I was not looking where I was going. I also got to witness a <a href="/2014/01/atlas-V.html">rocket launch</a>.</p>
<p>Now, in Bakersfield, <abbr title="California">CA</abbr>, we are only a couple hours away from some nice beaches (though not like ol’ Mullet Bay). We have already made some good friends.</p>
<p>Christine has been crazy busy! Today, she is on Day 19 without a day off, working 13 hours a day.</p>
<hr />
<p>I think we both miss Sint Maarten. I know we both miss the friends that we made there. It is also hard being so far away from our family in Iowa.</p>
<p>Life is certainly exciting, though.</p>
<p>I think California suits us. We don’t know how long we’ll be here: could be a year, could be many years.</p>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.comOne year ago Christine and I moved back to the United States.Rules of Visiting Grandparents2014-04-17T00:00:00-05:002014-04-17T00:00:00-05:00https://pathawks.com/2014/04/rules<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rule #1 of visiting grandparents: Don&#39;t even try to count your calories. If eating a mountain of homemade pastries makes them happy, eat.</p>&mdash; Christine Hawks (@ChristineJHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristineJHawks/statuses/456186552742207488">April 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rule #2: You will be served meat regardless of whether you&#39;ve mentioned that you&#39;re a vegetarian. Just be thankful for the extra protein.</p>&mdash; Christine Hawks (@ChristineJHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristineJHawks/statuses/456188005770743808">April 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rule #3 of visiting grandparents: You will be doing tech support.</p>&mdash; Christine Hawks (@ChristineJHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristineJHawks/statuses/456484291040391168">April 16, 2014</a></blockquote>Christine HawksRule #1 of visiting grandparents: Don&#39;t even try to count your calories. If eating a mountain of homemade pastries makes them happy, eat.&mdash; Christine Hawks (@ChristineJHawks) April 15, 2014 Rule #2: You will be served meat regardless of whether you&#39;ve mentioned that you&#39;re a vegetarian. Just be thankful for the extra protein.&mdash; Christine Hawks (@ChristineJHawks) April 15, 2014 Rule #3 of visiting grandparents: You will be doing tech support.&mdash; Christine Hawks (@ChristineJHawks) April 16, 2014Atlas Ⅴ2014-01-24T01:00:00-06:002014-01-24T01:00:00-06:00https://pathawks.com/2014/01/atlas-v<p>Please visit <a href='https://pathawks.com/2014/01/atlas-V.html'>PatHawks.com/2014/01/atlas-V.html</a> to view this post.</p>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.comPlease visit PatHawks.com/2014/01/atlas-V.html to view this post.Last Day of Winter2014-01-08T15:19:58-06:002015-07-19T13:20:00-05:00https://pathawks.com/2014/01/last-day-of-winter<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pathawks/11843044233/" title="Cross-Country Skiing with Christine"><img src="https://media.pathawks.com/2014/01/last-day-of-winter-large.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Cross-Country Skiing with Christine"></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden"><p>❄️Cross-Country Skiing with <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristineJHawks">@ChristineJHawks</a>.<br />Not a bad way to spend our last day of winter before moving to Miami🌴 <a href="http://t.co/jQIFJfSv3D">http://t.co/jQIFJfSv3D</a></p>&mdash; Pat Hawks (@PatHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatHawks/status/421028531674841089">January 8, 2014</a></blockquote>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.com❄️Cross-Country Skiing with @ChristineJHawks.Not a bad way to spend our last day of winter before moving to Miami🌴 http://t.co/jQIFJfSv3D&mdash; Pat Hawks (@PatHawks) January 8, 2014Nomad2013-12-10T10:37:00-06:002013-12-10T10:37:00-06:00https://pathawks.com/2013/12/nomad<p>It has certainly been an eventful season.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.christinehawks.com">Christine</a> and I <a href="http://www.christinehawks.com/2013/10/back-in-usa.html">moved back from Sint Maarten</a> in late August.</p>
<p>Christine took her first set of board exams and did very well.</p>
<p>I gained a mother-in-law when <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/rwwmd">Christine’s dad</a> married a wonderful lady: Susan.</p>
<p>Christine and I learned that we will be spending the next couple of years in southern California.</p>
<p>We’ve spent time with family, dug deeper into our family history, had (a couple of) wonderful Thanksgiving meals, visited Chicago and Minneapolis… life is full of excitement!</p>
<p>It has been more of an adjustment than I had expected to get reacquainted with my home country. The pace, culture, and weather are all very different from what we were used to in Sint Maarten.</p>
<p>Our cats are enjoying the many perks of living just up the road from a pet store.</p>
<p>This week, Christine and I will head out to Bakersfield, <abbr title='California'>CA</abbr> to find a place to live and get a feel for what the next couple years will have in store.</p>
<p><em>The sweet scent of adventure fills the air.</em></p>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.comIt has certainly been an eventful season.ACT Reflections2013-07-08T09:15:00-05:002013-07-08T09:15:00-05:00https://pathawks.com/2013/07/act-reflections<p>Last month I retook the ACT, more than ten years after I first took the test in high school.<br />
I was fairly happy with my score in high school, and was interested to see just how much I have forgotten being out of a classroom for a few years.</p>
<p>Before heading to Iowa Western Community College, the site of the test, I gathered all the supplies I would need for the test. This included a ten-pack of fresh number 2 pencils, a fresh large pink eraser, a TI-84plus (which I found in a drawer at my father-in-laws house, presumably it had once belonged to my sister-in-law) and a pack of fresh AAA batteries to power it, a backup calculator (one of those solar powered guys that did little more than basic arithmetic - I was really banking on not needing it), a pack of tic tacs®, and a sixteen ounce Monster Energy Drink® to chug before the test started.</p>
<p>I had planned on arriving at Iowa Western an hour early, but instead I opted to have a leisurely morning and take my time getting ready.<br />
This was probably in error as, when I arrived at Iowa Western about 15 or 20 minutes before the test was scheduled to start, I found there was a lot of construction going on on the roads around Iowa Western. I was not able to drive up to the building – Dodge Hall – taking the route that I had planned on taking. I knew that I was close to Dodge Hall. I didn’t have a map of Iowa Western but I knew I was close to where I needed to be. I just decided to ditch the car and take off on foot. Unbeknownst to me, twice I walked past Dodge Hall, but there wasn’t a sign on this entrance to the building, so I didn’t recognize that it was where I needed to be.</p>
<p>Eventually a high school girl passing by in her car asked me if I knew where Dodge Hall was and I said I didn’t but was trying to find it myself. She offered to give me a ride. I hopped in her car and we drove about a lap around the campus. Unfortunately – since it was Saturday morning – their welcome center was locked, and there weren’t any staff around; we were on our own.</p>
<p>She told me about working the late shift at McDonald's the night prior, and being at Iowa Western was about the last place she wanted to be at eight o'clock on a Saturday morning.</p>
<p>She didn’t have a calculator or even pencils with her; I lent her a few of my fresh, new pencils.</p>
<p>Eventually, we got to where we needed to be with just a couple of minutes to spare.<br />
In the end, everything was fine and we were far from the only ones having trouble finding our way around.</p>
<p>By pure chance, we were assigned adjacent seats in the testing room. So we were able to chat between tests. Once or twice she turned around and muttered “Just shoot me now.”</p>
<p>About halfway through the reading test she laid her head down and fell asleep and didn’t wake up until we were about halfway through the science test.</p>
<p>I had not taken the essay portion of the test before, as it did not exist when I was in high school.<br />
We were given a prompt and had to choose a stance and write a persuasive essay to back up our position on this prompt.</p>
<p>I think my essay skills were woefully inadequate; it’s been at least eight years since I’ve had to write an essay like this. As if that weren’t bad enough, I had to write my essay in pencil! I hate writing in pencil! In ten years I have not done so much writing as I had to do on that essay; if I could have typed my essay, I surely could have done much better.</p>
<p>I outlined five paragraphs, and had time to write about three and a half, so I know that my essay won’t be winning any debate club awards. At the same time, I think my grasp of the English language is much better now than when I was in high school, and substantially better than that of the average high schooler. I used semi-colons and five syllable words - so I will score points in that department - but if they are looking primarily for a persuasive essay and don’t care so much about how it’s written, I’m sure that I did quite poorly.</p>
<p>Walking through Iowa Western’s Computer Science wing on my way back out to my car, I recognized that many of the course titles listed on the doors were subjects that I had a Wikipedia level understanding of, things like HTML5 and <abbr title='Cascading Style Sheets level 3'>CSS 3</abbr>, Intro to <abbr title='Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol'>TCP/IP</abbr>, <abbr title='Internet Protocol version 6'>IPv6</abbr>. I would absolutely love to take a collegiate level course on these topics.</p>
<p>What has gotten in my way in the past has been the number of prerequisites required to take these classes, but I’m wondering if maybe I could just audit classes and cherry pick things that I was interested in. Perhaps I would get more out of the college experience this way, though that certainly would not put me on a degree track - which many would argue is more important than actually learning anything.</p>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.comLast month I retook the ACT, more than ten years after I first took the test in high school. I was fairly happy with my score in high school, and was interested to see just how much I have forgotten being out of a classroom for a few years.272013-04-18T15:18:27-05:002015-07-19T13:20:00-05:00https://pathawks.com/2013/04/birthday-kite<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/christinehawks/8660511083/" title="Flying a Kite by christinejwarner, on Flickr"><img src="https://media.pathawks.com/2013/04/birthday-kite-large.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Flying a Kite"></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Now this is how to celebrate a birthday! <a href="http://t.co/hoTYBPJXEl" title="http://flic.kr/p/eciodB">flic.kr/p/eciodB</a></p>&mdash; Pat Hawks (@PatHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatHawks/status/324980263606165505">April 18, 2013</a></blockquote>Pat Hawkspat@pathawks.comNow this is how to celebrate a birthday! flic.kr/p/eciodB&mdash; Pat Hawks (@PatHawks) April 18, 2013